Object Details

Title:

Artist/Maker:

Culture:

Place:

Date:

1775

Medium:

Marble

Dimensions:

144 cm (56 11/16 in.)

Signed:

Signed and dated: Nollekens F[ ] : 1775. [Superscript t].

Object Type:

Sculpture

Object Number:

87.SA.107

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Goddess of war and wisdom, the stately Minerva stands like a majestic column as she raises her helmet. At her side rests a large shield, on which is carved the frightening head of the Medusa, used to ward off enemies. Her body is composed in a spiral, which provides interesting views from several different angles. The marble statue formed part of a Judgment of Paris group. According to ancient mythology, Paris was chosen to decide between Juno, Minerva, and Venus for the title of "the fairest." Although Minerva promised him fame and glory in war, Paris chose Venus.

possibly 1776 - 1782

Charles Watson-Wentworth, second marquis of Rockingham, English, 1730 - 1782 (London, England), commissioned by him from Nollekens as part of the Judgment of Paris group, displayed in his Grosvenor Square House (London, England), by inheritance to his nephew William Wentworth, fourth earl Fitzwilliam.Source: Penny, 1991, p. 28, refers to payments to the artist, and p. 23, mentions the 1782 inventory for the location.

1782 - 1833

William Wentworth, fourth earl Fitzwilliam, English, 1748 - 1833 (Wentworth Woodhouse, Yorkshire, England), brought from London to Wentworth Woodhouse between 1782 and 1802, by inheritance within the Wentworth Fitzwilliam family.Source: The sculpture was seen at Wentworth Woodhouse in 1802 by Richard Warner (Warner, A Tour through [...], vol. 1 (1802), pp. 219-20).

Graves, Algernon. The Royal Academy of Arts: A Complete Dictionary of Contributors and Their Work from Its Foundation in 1769 to 1904 (1905; repr., London: S.R. Publishers LTD. And Kingsmead Reprints, 1970), vol. 3 (1970), vol. 3 (1970), p. 381.